STRUT IT DOWN

The dimly lit corridors in the bowels of arenas do not provide the most glamorous of backdrops, but the WNBA's stars have transformed them into CUTTING-EDGE CATWALKS—and in doing so, cemented themselves as style icons

- by Clare Brennan

SKYLAR DIGGINS

SEATTLE STORM

NOW IN her 11th WNBA season, Skylar Diggins has witnessed a transformation of the league's pregame rituals. “I’ve been doing tunnel walks since 2013,” says Diggins. “[There] just weren’t that many people there to take my damn picture.” The Storm guard says the W has always been fashion-forward, but more eyeballs have meant more opportunity and influence. “Women’s basketball is now an important part of pop culture, whereas before, I don’t think we got that recognition,” says Diggins, 34. “People take our slang, people take our trends. People are watching what we're wearing.”

Diggins takes an intentional approach to her outfits, deploying what she calls “method” or “theme” styling. During her stint with Unrivaled’s Lunar Owls earlier this year, she donned looks inspired by the team mascot.

Over the past two WNBA seasons, Diggins says she presented a more “business-core” vibe, embellished with metallics and infused with elements of futurism. This year she says she’s gravitating toward chic, polished high-fashion pieces.

Living by the mantra, “Look good, feel good, play good,” Diggins sees getting dressed as an integral part of her pregame routine, not an ancillary undertaking. She puts on her ensemble just before leaving the house, since she’s usually also getting her daughter and son ready to ride with her to the arena. It all comes together right before she hits the tunnel, where Diggins is met by photographers snapping images. But as soon as she enters the locker room, Diggins quickly trades her runway-worthy threads for her dark green Storm uniform.

PAIGE BUECKERS

DALLAS WINGS